Porsche

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

Group14 Technologies (Group14) develops silicon-carbon composite materials as an alternative for the graphite used in lithium-ion batteries. Group14 claims that its flagship product SCC55, a micronized silicon-carbon powder, has 5x more capacity and offers up to 50% more energy density than graphite. Use cases for SCC55 include EVs, medical devices, aviation, and grid storage.In October 2020, Group14 announced the development of a production facility in Moses Lake, Washington, that is expected to carry a production capacity of more than 750,000 silicon-carbon anodes per year. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17527">April 2023</a>, the company began construction of a second commercial-scale Battery Active Materials (BAM-2) factory in Moses Lake, Washington. The factory is expected to begin manufacturing SCC55 in 2024. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33799">September 2024</a>, Group14 delivered SCC55 silicon battery material from its 10-gigawatt-hour joint venture (JV) plant in Sangju, South Korea.Key customers and partnershipsIn January 2024, Group14 Technologies partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25287">Enovix</a> Corporation, to utilize the former's silicon-carbon composite, SCC55, in silicon battery production.Funding and financialsIn October 2022, Group14 was awarded a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13898">USD 100 million</a> grant by the US Department of Energy under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Group14 will be using the funds to build two 2,000-ton-per-year commercial manufacturing modules in its second US Battery Active Materials factory (BAM-2) in Washington.In May 2022, Group14 raised <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10162">USD 400 million</a> in a Series C round led by Porsche AG. Following this in December 2022, the company raised <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15344">USD 214 million</a> in additional financing. This brings its Series C funding to a total of USD 614 million. The funds will be used to build its BAM-2 factory.

Rimac Automobili is a Croatian electric sports car developer. The company’s latest model Nevera has a range of around 550 km (340 miles) and a top speed of 258 mph. Rimac also develops and produces battery packs, drivetrain systems, and vehicles for other automakers. Some notable customers include Aston Martin, Jaguar, and SEAT. The company launched its Nevera EV in Singapore in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23988">October 2023</a>, with plans to manufacture 150 units.Rimac operates multiple offices, R&amp;D centers, and manufacturing facilities across Croatia and the UK. The company’s 37,000-square-meter facility in Zagreb, Croatia, houses Nevera’s production line. Rimac was also in the process of developing a single location for all its Croatian operations in Zagreb. The new facility, Rimac Campus, was scheduled to be completed in 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsIn November 2021, Rimac Group and Porsche formed a JV that involved the latter’s Bugatti brand. The new venture, Bugatti Rimac, will focus on joint R&amp;D but operate independently as Rimac Automobili and Bugatti Automobiles. Rimac has a 55% stake in the JV.&nbsp;In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23988">October 2023</a>, Rimac partnered with Wearnes Automotive, a leading automotive distributor, to launch the Rimac Nevera EV in Singapore.Funding and financialsIn June 2022, Rimac raised EUR 500 million (~USD 536 million) in a Series D funding round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2 and Goldman Sachs. The funding will be used to hire employees, build a USD 200 million campus for Rimac’s headquarters in Zagreb and to develop and produce batteries, software and other components for EVs. Previously, in March 2021, Rimac raised EUR 70 million from Porsche Ventures and in May 2019, raised USD 90 million from Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors.

Clear the air on carbon capture, reuse, and storage

Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)

HIF Global is an energy company specializing in the production of carbon-neutral fuels. The company combines green hydrogen obtained via electrolysis and CO2 captured from the atmosphere or industrial emissions to produce eFuels. This synthesis process produces eMethanol for shipping fuel, eGasoline, or jet fuel.HIF Global aims to capture 25 million tons of CO2 by 2030.Key customers and partnershipsIn October 2021, HIF USA, a subsidiary of HIF Global, contracted <a href="https://hifglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/HIF-USA-Engages-Bechtel-for-Engineering-and-Design-of-eFuels-Project-Initiates-Site-Selection.pdf">Bechtel</a> to conduct the preliminary engineering and design of an eFuel facility in the US to produce a carbon-neutral gasoline substitute. In March 2023, HIF Global partnered with <a href="https://hifglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HIF-Global-and-Baker-Hughes-to-Collaborate-on-Direct-Air-Capture-Technology.pdf">Baker Hughes</a> to test Baker Hughes’ Mosaic DAC technology pilot units for commercial-scale deployment capacity.In April 2023, the company partnered with <a href="https://en.prnasia.com/releases/apac/hif-global-and-idemitsu-kosan-announce-carbon-neutral-efuels-strategic-cooperation-399057.shtml">Idemitsu Kosan</a>, a Japanese energy company to provide eFuels to Idemitsu, receive co-investments for global HIF eFuels facilities including new units in Japan, and source recycled CO2 for use in the eFuels production process from Japan.In <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hif-global-porsche-and-volkswagen-group-unveil-new-direct-air-capture-unit-301917104.html">September 2023</a>, the company partnered with Porsche AG and Volkswagen Group Innovation to develop and deploy a direct air capture unit at the HIF Haru Oni Demonstration facility in Chile in 2024. In October 2023, HIF Global signed a cooperation agreement with <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hif-global-and-eneos-announce-co-operation-to-accelerate-production-of-efuels-301946453.html">ENEOS</a>, a Japanese petroleum refiner, to promote the distribution of carbon-neutral fuel in Japan.In <a href="https://www.hifglobal.com/docs/default-source/documentos-noticias/chile/pr-2024-04-23-hif-and-org-agreement.pdf?sfvrsn=5233e11f_1">April 2024</a> HIF Global announced an agreement to collaborate with Optimal Renewable Gas (ORG) to potentially supply 15,000 tons of biogenic CO2 to the HIF Tasmania eFuel facility. In July 2024, the company signed an MoU with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32016">Airbus</a> to develop e-fuels for sustainable aviation.&nbsp;Funding and financialsThe company’s latest funding round was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29379">May 2024</a>, when it raised USD 164 million in a corporate funding round led by Idemitsu Kosan. Previously in April 2022, HIF Global raised USD 260 million in an equity round by Porsche AG, Global Energy Partners-EIG, AME, Baker Hughes, and Gemstone Investments. The company planned to use the funding to develop carbon-neutral eFuels projects in the US, Australia, Chile, and Uruguay.

Travel Tech

FlixMobility is a Munich-based transportation company that operates the FlixBus coach network and FlixTrain (launched in 2018) rail service for inter-city travel. FlixBus offers on-demand mass transportation services across the Americas (launched in the US in 2018) and Europe. It also offers the option to rent a bus for groups or plan trips to different holiday destinations. The company does not own the vehicles that run under its services but works with independent bus and train partners to create daily connections. FlixBus uses a revenue-sharing business model in which the company shares the revenue from each booking with its transportation partners. FlixBus keeps between 25% and 30% of the booking price, while the remaining revenue goes to the train or bus operator. FlixMobility reported a revenue of EUR 2.0 billion (~USD 2.2 billion) in FY2023, a more than 33% YoY increase.&nbsp;The company acquired long-distance bus provider, Greyhound, for approximately USD 46 million in October 2021 to expand its US offering. Other acquisitions include Eurolines S.A (March 2019) and Megabus and Postbus (2016).Key customers and partnershipsAs of August 2024, it claimed to be the largest bus service network in Europe, providing more than 400,000 daily connections to more than 5,600 destinations in almost 44 countries. Further, the company also reported that more than 300 million customers had traveled through the platform.

Using AI to mimic and understand human language

Natural Language Processing Tools

Cresta is an end-to-end generative AI platform for contact centers that aims to make every customer interaction excellent. Founded in 2020, the company leverages artificial intelligence to provide real-time intelligence and coaching for contact center agents, managers, and executives. Cresta's platform uses advanced language models and machine learning to analyze conversations, identify effective behaviors, and provide actionable insights to improve performance.
The company's core product offerings include Cresta for Agents, which provides real-time AI-driven assistance and coaching; Cresta for Managers, which offers visibility into agent performance and enables real-time coaching; and Cresta for Business, which delivers executive-level insights on contact center interactions and performance. In April 2024, Cresta introduced new capabilities including Behavior Discovery, Generative AI Intents, and enhanced Hybrid Quality Management & Screen Recording features. These advancements aim to help organizations achieve better business outcomes by identifying and reinforcing effective conversational behaviors.
Cresta's technology integrates with existing contact center systems, allowing for a modular adoption approach rather than requiring a full replacement of current infrastructure. The platform is designed to work across multiple channels, including phone, chat, and email. Cresta's AI models are customized for each client, enabling the software to understand company-specific conversations and provide tailored recommendations.
Key customers and partnerships
Cresta serves a range of enterprise customers across various industries. Notable clients include CarMax, Vivint, Intuit, Porsche, Blue Nile, Earthlink, and Holiday Inn Vacation Club. The company has reported significant improvements for its customers, including a 15% increase in customer satisfaction scores on average, 3X reduced ramp time for new agents, and 3-5 hours saved per week on repetitive tasks for agents.
In terms of partnerships, Cresta has strategic relationships with major players in the contact center industry. In March 2022, the company announced investments from Genesys, Five9, and Zoom as part of its Series C funding round. These partnerships aim to accelerate go-to-market efforts and integrate Cresta's AI capabilities with existing contact center platforms.

Harnessing tech to provide exceptional customer experiences

Customer Service Platforms

Cresta offers AI-powered solutions for business contact centers, including virtual agents, AI assistants for human agents, agent coaching, and analytics tools. Cresta’s solutions are applicable in sales, collections, customer retention, and remote workforce management use cases, across automotive, retail, finance, telecom, insurance, and airline industries.Cresta’s main products are;1) Agent Assist: an AI powered assistant for human agents, offering automated note-taking and summaries, generative AI and analytics powered response suggestion, and autocomplete.2) Director: A call center management tool offering quality assurance tools, agent coaching, performance insights, and functionality allowing managers to monitor and assist their agents in real time.3) Insights: an analytics tool which monitors interactions, leveraging generative AI to produce insights into customer behavior.4) Virtual Agent: a chatbot powered by generative AI. Virtual Agent analyzes support history to identify which conversations require automation, builds chatbot content, and automates to independently resolve simpler customer queries.The individual products are integrated in a unified platform, allowing insights and analytics from one product to be immediately actioned in another. Cresta offers these solutions in bundles with features tailored for revenue growth, customer care, and post call workstreams.As of April 2023, Cresta’s solutions are available for integration with several contact center platforms including; Five9, Genesis, AWS Connect, Twilio, Salesforce, and Liveperson.Cresta’s solutions leverage the “Real Time Intelligence Platform”, the firm’s underlying AI which integrates large language models (LLMs) and natural language understanding (NLU). The AI platform enables Cresta to deliver bespoke solutions to each customer without requiring customers to train AI, fine-tune language models, or build workflows. Cresta also provides a no-code platform to allow customers to modify the AI.Key customers and partnershipsAs of April 2023, Cresta counts Aptive, Blue Nile, Carmax, COX, Porsche, Earthlink, Hulton, Holiday Inn, Intuit, and Verizon as customers.

VARTA AG manufactures and markets a diverse battery portfolio ranging from microbatteries, household batteries, energy storage systems, to customer-specific battery solutions for a wide range of applications, and as a technology leader, sets industry standards in key areas. It is a recognized innovation leader in the important growth markets of lithium-ion technology and primary hearing aid batteries, setting global standards in many areas of lithium-ion technology and microbatteries. VARTA AG's operating subsidiaries are currently active in over 75 countries around the world, with five production and manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, as well as sales centers in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

FlixBus is a unique combination of tech-startup, e-commerce platform, and transportation company. FlixMobility is a young mobility provider, offering new alternatives for convenient, affordable, and environmentally-friendly travel via the FlixBus and FlixTrain brands. Thanks to a unique business model and innovative technology, the startup has quickly established Europe’s largest long-distance bus network and launched the first green long-distance trains in 2018 as well as a pilot project for all-electric buses in Germany and France. Since 2013, FlixMobility has changed the way over 100 million people have traveled throughout Europe and created thousands of new jobs in the mobility industry. In 2018, FlixMobility launched FlixBus USA to bring this new travel alternative to the United States. From locations throughout Europe and the United States, the FlixTeam handles technology development, network planning, operations control, marketing & sales, quality management, and continuous product expansion. The daily scheduled service and green FlixBus fleet are managed by bus partners from regional SMEs, while FlixTrain operates in cooperation with private train companies. Through these partnerships, innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong international brand meet the experience and quality of tradition. The unique combination of a technology start-up, e-commerce platform, and classic transport company has positioned FlixMobility as a leader against major international corporations, permanently changing the European mobility landscape.

HIF Global is an eFuel company engaged in the production of carbon-neutral fuels. The company uses renewable energy to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis and captures CO2 from the atmosphere, or from an industrial or biogenic source. It produces a carbon-neutral equivalent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with green methanol. HIF Global's mission is to accelerate decarbonization by producing carbon neutral eFuels, providing a solution today for a better tomorrow.

Sensigo is an AI-powered vehicle service platform that gives service technicians and OEMs the tools they need to reduce cycle time, enhance customer satisfaction, and mitigate warranty risk by simplifying complex automotive and maintenance data.

Bluedot is a marketplace where electric vehicles reach charging units and charger owners can share their spots with others. It is a software and hardware integrated system with a mobile application where charger owners can easily schedule and share charger and make money, while electric car owners reach all the chargers which are publicly and privately-owned.

Vientiane Technology offers virtual Idol incubation, operations and commercialization services.

Leading company for high performance cells for automotive and aviation applications. Former technology provider and creator of Porsche's Cellforce Group. Founded in 2012, Customcells is running several development and production sites and is currently expanding into the USA. Customcells is the cell manufacturing partner for Lilium and is currently manufacturing pre-lithiiated battery cells with a tremendously high power and energy rating. Customcells is working on systematic implementation of artificial intelligence in production.

Justhome operates as a home financing platform.

Stretchme is a sport-tech company that offers personalized in-house training routines. The company offers courses for preparing for splits, training in opening the chest, and preparing for handstands or forearms. The Stretchme platform is intended for both very beginner and advanced clients.

Rimac is a technology powerhouse that manufactures electric hypercars and provides full technology solutions to global automotive manufacturers. Founded in 2009 with headquarters in Croatia, Rimac started as a garage project and grew into a globally recognized technology leader, built upon the passion and vision of the company's Founder and CEO Mate Rimac. It has challenged the status-quo with the vision to revolutionize and reinvent the sports car with its unique technology thus successfully tackling the electrification challenge set upon the automotive industry.

Welcome to Puulse, the future of banking and financing for the next generation of digital workers! Our platform is designed specifically for gig workers, providing them with instant payment options and a range of tailored financial products to help solve their unique financial challenges. Our mission is to empower the 1 billion gig workers worldwide to achieve Financial Zen, by offering a flexible and user-friendly banking and financing experience that meets their needs. With Puulse, gig workers can access financial tools and resources that were previously unavailable to them, giving them greater control over their finances and peace of mind. Our team of fintech experts is passionate about creating innovative solutions that truly make a difference in people's lives. We're proud to be at the forefront of the gig economy revolution, and we're committed to helping gig workers thrive in today's digital economy. Join us in our mission to transform the world of finance for gig workers. Follow Puulse on LinkedIn for the latest updates and insights, and visit our website to learn more about our platform and how we can help you achieve Financial Zen.

Group14 is the world’s leading commercial manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery technology. Today, Group14 works with customers representing 95% of worldwide battery production.  Headquartered in Woodinville, WA, with a joint venture in South Korea, and new factories on the horizon around the world, our Battery Active Material (BAM) factories can be built anywhere on Earth to help meet global demand for silicon battery materials. We're enabling a world where anything that can run on rechargeable batteries, does.

Cresta makes business radically more productive by using Expertise AI to help sales and service teams unlock their full potential. Cresta is bringing together world-renowned AI thought-leaders, engineers, and investors to create market-ready AI solutions capable of transforming sales and service productivity in weeks. Cresta has driven hundreds of millions of dollars in incremental revenue for its clients and is backed by world-class investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Greylock Partners.

auticon is the first German company to exclusively employ autistic people as software testers and offer their services (Software-Tests) on the free market. This innovative approach gives the client the advantage of special high-quality workmanship.

INTAMSYS is a world-leading high-tech company providing 3D printing and industrial direct additive manufacturing solutions for high-performance materials. It is co-founded by a team of engineers from world-class high-tech companies engaged in precision equipment development and high-performance materials research for many years. Focusing on aerospace, aviation, automotive, electronic manufacturing, consumer goods, healthcare, scientific research, and other industries, the company provides comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions from functional test prototyping, tooling, and fixture manufacturing to direct mass production of final products, covering equipment, software, high-performance materials, and printing services. The headquarters is in Shanghai, China, and was established in 2013. The company has since then two “regional” sales, operations, and support offices respectively located in Stuttgart, Germany, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.

LifeLive is an interactive streaming platform for conferences, events, and festivals that allows users to interact live over video. Their goal is to provide festivals, clubs, and artists of all stripes with additional sources of cash. Additionally, make it easier for people to maintain contact with one another and continue to exchange cultural experiences.

Developer of an end-to-end software platform to deliver the needs of passenger experience for autonomous vehicles. The company modernizes cars to include new functionality such as video playback through a software-only integration.

Anagog is the world’s first On-phone Customer Engagement & Enrichment Platform.  Being the first marketing platform that's powered by Edge-AI, working from within the phone without dependency on cloud processing, Anagog helps mobile app owners truly meet and exceed their customers’ expectations for relevant personalized experiences in real-time, while (finally) meeting the demand for privacy. Anagog’s patented award-winning technology enables companies to understand their users from outside of their app and extract hundreds of 1st-party insights using the phone’s OS and sensors. In addition, companies can finally deliver personalization while solving privacy completely as personal data is processed on the phone. Anagog enables marketers to offer a differentiated multi-channel personalized engagement, in real-time, including Push Notifications, In-App Messages, App Inbox, and more, and to better learn their audience via powerful anonymized audience analytics.

Porsche is an automobile manufacturer. The company develops numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety, and spurred environmental innovations. They are specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans. It also offers motor vehicle development work and consulting.  It also develops software solutions for transport logistics and traffic planning and management and provides dealer and customer financing, leasing, banking, insurance, fleet management, and mobility services.  The company was awarded the title of ''Most Prestigious Automobile Brand'' by Luxury Institute in a 2006 survey. Porsche was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Porsche Recalls Nearly 16K Taycan EVs In China Citing Fire Risk

Clean, congestion-free air travel gets liftoff

Passenger eVTOL Aircraft

Companies that build eVTOLs that use rechargeable electric batteries (mostly lithium-ion) for propulsion. Batteries tend to be heavier and have lower energy density resulting in short vehicle flight-time and range.

Companies that build eVTOLs that use electricity and fossil fuels for propulsion to achieve a longer range. This hybrid propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine.

Companies that build eVTOLs that use hydrogen fuel cells for propulsion. Hydrogen fuel cells have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries and allow the aircraft to travel longer distances.

Providers of ground infrastructure (such as vertipads and vertiports), and air and digital infrastructure (such as navigation, flight controls, and other avionics for eVTOLs)

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

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<div>
 <ul>
 <li>Volkswagen-owned automaker Porsche is partnering with Google to incorporate Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store into upcoming Porsche vehicles. This integration will enable drivers to access Google technologies while keeping the Porsche user interface.</li>
 <li>The collaboration is a long-term initiative, with production expected to begin in the mid-2020s.</li>
 </ul>
</div> Analyst QuickTake: Car manufacturers such as <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/5/20851021/general-motors-android-auto-google-infotainment"> General Motors, </a> <a href="https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/release-860852d7040eed420ffbaebb22094eb4-180918-01-e"> Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, </a> and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/01/ford-and-google-sign-six-year-deal-for-android-in-car-apps-cloud.html"> Ford </a> already incorporate Google technology into their vehicles to provide services including Google Maps and Google Assistant.

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